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Civilizaciones precolombinas. Canal Encuentro. — Transcript · YTtoTranscript

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Civilizaciones precolombinas. Canal Encuentro.

Geografia Historia (Ciencias Sociales) · 3,121 words · 16 min read · EN

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Below is the complete, readable transcript of Civilizaciones precolombinas. Canal Encuentro. by Geografia Historia (Ciencias Sociales) on YouTube. Read the full text, copy any part you need, or generate a transcript for any video with our free tool.

[Music]

[Music]

and

they like mystery stories. Why are we going to travel through time? We're going to discover the story of a people surrounded by mysteries and secrets. But we're going to travel in a magical way. [Music] It worked!

I'm where the story we're going to explore happened. Today I'll tell you that several centuries before the arrival of the Spanish in America, there existed an extraordinary civilization capable of building imposing cities with great palaces and pyramids, a people who had developed their own writing system and achieved amazing knowledge about astronomy and

mathematics. So much so that their calendar is considered one of the most accurate in the world. We're talking about the Maya, one of the great original civilizations of America. And what are the mysteries that surround the Maya? One of the most intriguing is that at a certain point in their history, the Maya disappeared from

their cities. They abandoned them. How's it going, teacher? Did the little trick work? Not very well, but let's continue with the Mayan cities. As in every mystery story, the reasons why it is believed that the Maya abandoned their cities, we'll tell them at the end, but for now, let's say that these cities, some of them These cities, which once

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had hundreds of thousands of inhabitants, became depopulated and deserted. Over time, the land was covered by vegetation and the jungle, and they remained hidden and forgotten for centuries. [Music] Now, from a story of mysteries, we move to one of adventure. [Music] Imagine an American explorer accompanied by a draftsman in 1839, crossing a dense jungle,

advancing with enormous difficulty. After days of marching, these two adventurers made a fascinating discovery in the territory of what is now Honduras. Covered in vegetation, they found the ruins of one of those incredible Mayan cities, the city of Copán, until then unknown, a city forgotten and lost for centuries. This was the first of many discoveries

that revealed to the world part of the splendor of the Mayan culture. Over time, the Mayan territory extended south to Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula, and practically all of Guatemala and western Honduras and El Salvador. The Mayan domains included very varied terrains: low and humid areas, high mountains up to 4,500 meters high, and warm valleys.

Semi-desert plains, swamps, lakes, forests, jungles, and large sections of the coast on the Atlantic and Pacific. And what does this have to do with corn and the Maya? Corn was very important to the Maya. Agriculture was the basis of the Mayan economy, and corn was their main crop. Furthermore, according to their beliefs, the

gods had created humans from corn. The Maya began more than 4,500 years ago as simple farmers, but as time passed, they began to organize themselves in a more complex way. Little by little, the small villages grew, and agricultural production began to generate surpluses. Some farmers became nobles, and the priests became more powerful within the

communities. And going back to corn, that was their staple food. What a strange construction! What does it remind you of? It's like an observatory to look at the sky and the stars because the Maya were great astronomers. No, teacher, they held astronomy congresses. They built observatories in several of their cities, and in some documents and

constructions, you can see calculations of the lunar and solar cycles and the frequency of eclipses. [Music] Did you know that based on their astronomical knowledge The Maya created their own calendar, possibly dating back to before Christ, and it was the most accurate until the 15th century. Did you know that the Mayan solar calendar is more

accurate than the one we use today? How incredible! I really didn't know the Mayan calendar was so advanced. But let's leave astronomy and calendars aside and move on to Mayan writing. How difficult it seems! I'd like to write some symbols, but I think it would take me about 10 years to copy a sentence. The Maya developed

a writing system and created their own arithmetic system. They also advanced in sculpture and very refined ceramics. The Maya produced a writing system. This writing system left traces on different surfaces, such as architecture, ceramics, and certain woods. They wrote on different surfaces, telling us the history of this society. They recounted the history of their rulers

and had a true historical narrative. From this, as well as, for example, the calendrical record or the astronomical record, the writing system was unknown at the beginning of the 20th century, and the first researchers They could only begin to decipher what had to do with the calendar, that is, the dates that generally

head all the inscriptions that come from the State. In the early 1950s, a young Soviet researcher, Yuri Noros Sof, managed to break the Mayan script and tell us what this writing system was really like. The Maya had a system that wasn't alphabetic like ours, but rather syllabic, logographic, and phonetic. The Maya enjoyed great

cultural splendor during the so-called Mayan Classic period, between 300 and 900 AD. In this stage, they reached their peak in art and architecture and built more than 120 Mayan cities, like this one, Tical. But let's see where the main ones were: Tulum, Coba, Palenque, Uxmal, Mayapan, Chichén Itzá, and Bonan Pac, all in

present-day Mexico; Copán in Honduras and Guatemala; and Kiriga and Tical. Tical is one of the most fantastic Mayan cities. A specialist on this site will help us learn about it. Let's go. Let's see what Tical tells us. It's one of the most important cities along the entire Mayan route, covering 576 km. It's believed that

12,000 people lived in Tical. There are vestiges of Tical dating back to 800 BC, but Tical's flourishing can be said to have occurred from 680 AD to 840 AD. From 840 to 900 AD, there was a decline, and from 900 to 1000 AD, there was emigration. That is perhaps the greatest enigma of the Maya. Because

after building incredible cities like this, they began to abandon them. Can we discover the answer to this mystery? Teacher, it seems a little soon. How about we review what we've learned so far? Yes, I know! I know, teacher! It's time to recap. [Music] The Mayan civilization was one of the most important in America. The Maya

occupied part of what is now Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. The basis of their economy was agriculture, and corn was their main crop and food. They had a The Classic period, between 300 and 900 AD, was a period of splendor. They created a writing system, achieved great knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, excelled in

art and architecture, and built great cities. Professor, how were all these cities discovered? Explorers and archaeologists, starting in the 19th century, rescued unknown Mayan cities, abandoned for centuries, from beneath the earth and jungle. We said that the first to be found was Copán, and nine years later, in 1848, Tical was discovered. Touring Tical, we're going to learn about

some of the characteristics common to all Mayan cities and also some of its particularities. In Tical, 3,500 structures have been found using NASA or satellite imagery. We have restored about 15%. There is no excavation work being done now; only restoration work is being carried out. From what I've seen so far, Tical doesn't look much like other

cities of indigenous peoples of America, like Machu Picchu, for example. I think the Mayan cities were really quite unique, right, teacher? Of course, the Mayan cities were quite different from those of other American civilizations. The cities of the Aztecs, for example, or the Incas, had well-planned cobblestone streets and, above all, very orderly neighborhoods. In the

Mayan cities, there was a ceremonial center, which was a meeting plaza surrounded by large temples in the shape of four-sided pyramids with very steep staircases and stone buildings for the use of the priests and for administrative matters. [Music] Around it were located the most luxurious houses of the nobles, and scattered throughout were the

dwellings of most of the population. In some cases, a defensive wall surrounded the city. As you can see, the Mayan cities were surrounded by the jungle. How did their inhabitants travel from one city to another? Well, the Maya built stone roads that crossed the jungle and connected the main cities. Through these roads, the Maya practiced

trade between their cities and with other peoples to the north. These roads allowed them to reach central Mexico and communicate with the powerful Aztec city of Teotihuacan, with which they The Maya also traded with peoples to the south of their territory, such as those who inhabited what is now Panama and Colombia, the ancient land of

famous jewelers from whom the Maya obtained gold ornaments. They also produced remarkable ceramic sculptures, stone carvings, and murals. Some of these murals reflect the customs of the time and even their social organization, since they depict different characters from the nobility, common citizens, and slaves. These manifestations of Mayan art allow us to learn about different aspects

of that society. From what we are seeing and learning about their cities, the Maya were great architects, but I'm not the one who will confirm that; our friend, the specialist, will. And what kind of buildings did the Maya build in Tical? Tical National Park is made up of plazas, complexes, temples, pyramids, and

palaces, each with a different use. We have temples for ceremonial use, pyramids for astronomical observation, pyramids built to commemorate periods of government, and also administrative, residential, and commercial palaces. [Music] What's wrong, teacher? Did you lose something? I can't find the ball. Here it is, but what? He's going to leave me to go play ball

for half the program. Don't worry, it's a very special thing about the Maya ballgame. Besides building incredible cities, they had time to play ball. Yes, they practiced a ballgame that was considered sacred. The playing field for this game was an important part of the cities, and some are preserved in perfect condition. It was played between

two teams on a flat, elongated surface limited by two walls. In the center, there was a stone hoop through which the ball, made of rubber, had to be passed. According to various engravings and images, we know that the teams could have at least two, four, five, or six players. The tricky part was that they

couldn't propel the ball with their feet, head, or hands. Excuse me, I have a question: how did they propel the ball? With their hips, elbows, and knees? With incredibly complicated movements. I tried it, but I assure you that with one more team, I wouldn't have won any games. But in any case, it's

better that way because it's believed that the winners were sacrificed. Are you sure, teacher? Let's consult our specialist in Tical on the subject of sacrifices. Well, there has always been a discussion since... Some people in Mexico mention that the sacrifice in the ballgame was made to the loser, but others also mention that it was made to the

winner. And in Tical, it's known that the winner was also the one sacrificed, since for the Maya it was an honor to die. And secondly, their belief was that they became demigods. Teacher, leave that ball and see if they still sacrifice him. Okay, Ernestina, while you continue from the studio, here, I'll pass you the

ball. Very good that you listen to me. I like that. Now, what do I do next? Oh, my favorite section saved me! [Music] Did you know that the pyramids, temples, and buildings that we see today with the color of the stone or moss were painted entirely by the Maya in very different colors? No, I didn't know that.

Interesting. Of course, after centuries of being abandoned, they lost their color. Although I still can't imagine any of these pyramids painted red or blue. What colors did they paint them with? And how did they make the paintings on the temples, the palaces, and all the structures we can observe? In Tical National Park and along

the entire Maya Route, the buildings were stuccoed and painted with red, green, white, black, and even blue paint. The red was obtained from cochineal, an insect that produces many colors, primarily red, but also blue, as it releases another color that they mixed with ash, creating a very special blue. For black, they used

charcoal; for white, lime; and for green, certain plants. Well, well, well, my friends, I think it's time to reveal the mystery of why the Maya abandoned the great cities they had built. There are several opinions and answers regarding this mystery. It is known that Tical, for example, where more than 100,000 people lived,

was completely uninhabited around the year 1000. Something similar happened with many other Maya cities, later covered by the jungle and only discovered many centuries later. So, teacher, the cities were found in the jungle, and what are the theories about their abandonment? Please, enough with the suspense. Okay, don't be impatient. The first archaeologists

could barely explain the abandonment of cities during their apparent period of splendor. It was incomprehensible to them that the entire population, for no apparent reason, would leave to cross the jungle and build a new city elsewhere. This behavior was unprecedented in any other civilization. In 1917, an American professor offered an explanation based on the

social structure of the Maya. He highlighted a series of facts that made the Mayan culture a strange civilization compared to others. One of these differences was the absence of a large river in the Mayan territory, something indispensable for the creation of a great culture. Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China were crossed by important rivers, and

Greece had the sea. These were waterways that fostered communication and trade between different communities. The development of agriculture and livestock also seemed necessary for civilization, but we saw that the Maya did practice agriculture. Yes, but in a primitive way. What they did was burn a part of the jungle, make holes with long stakes, and

plant corn. So, apparently... The fields near the cities were becoming exhausted, the farmers were being depleted, new spaces were opened up in the jungle to plant crops, where over time the same thing happened, leading to great famines. According to this theory, it was hunger that forced people to leave the cities. What are the other theories?

Some researchers simply say that the population increase wasn't enough to guarantee food. Others speak of a great plague that could have affected the main crop, corn, with disastrous consequences. Other theories speak of devastating epidemics that would have killed a large part of the population and caused the rest to migrate. Others lean towards

earthquakes, lack of water, invasions by other peoples, or internal wars. Professor, I think we're in trouble. I found on the internet that Rigoberta Menchú, the woman who won the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize, is of Mayan origin, and I see a lot of current news about the Maya. However, many people believe that the Maya disappeared

centuries ago. Yes, and this is very important. Let's clarify this. Many people associate the Maya with their past, with their ancient civilization and archaeological sites, but today there is a large Mayan population, millions of people living in parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. In Guatemala, the country where we are now, there are many, many

Mayan descendants with other names: Maya, May, Mopan, Quich, Kaqchikel, Poqom, Suil. There are many, many, many people who are Mayan descendants. The current population, heirs to these peoples, continues to exist in different regions and is very strong, even though it is somewhat sidelined. There was great resistance to the states that we still know today in the

Candon Jungle and throughout northern Belize. There were different resistances, a caste war in the area of northern Belize, which is part of Mexico, a confrontation between the Mexican state and a demand for separation into an independent state, recovering the values of these cultures of the original peoples. With that clarified, I think it's

time for the review. Where do I begin? Well, the Maya built great cities that had a ceremonial center, which was a plaza surrounded by temples in the form of pyramids and others. Constructions such as palaces, dwellings, and observatories. Oh, and I can't forget the ballgame. The cities were connected by stone causeways through which

the Maya traded with other cities and towns. After times of splendor, the Maya abandoned their cities, and there are several theories to explain why. Some are that the land for cultivation was exhausted, that they abandoned them due to famine, lack of water, plague, or wars between peoples. Currently, the Maya population numbers in the millions.

[Music] Very good, Ernestina. To conclude, let's say that the Maya in the forests of Yucatán, towards the end of the 1st century, inaugurated an era of splendor that strongly marked the entire region. Without the need for a unified state, the Maya cities controlled an area of 280,000 km² distributed between parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and the

territories of Belize, El Salvador, and northwestern Honduras. Defeated in 1541, the Maya resistance to the Spanish colonization process lasted until the 17th century. Afterward, the Maya were relegated to marginalization and silence, but today the Maya population It is breaking that silence, and the cultural legacy, fortunately, remains alive. And one last interesting fact: the ruins of the Mayan city

of Chichen Itza had been declared a World Heritage Site. But also, in 2007, Chichen Itza was chosen as one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World. This choice was made through the vote of almost 100 million people in the largest global survey in history. This distinction honored the Mayan population, who received it as a

recognition of their entire culture— a very important meaning because we know who our ancestors are, and we also know about the important heritage they left us. That heritage will surely continue to grow as, with the work of researchers, historians, and archaeologists, we continue to discover the secrets of this fantastic civilization. And now, as I said at the beginning,

we have reached the end of this magical journey, this different journey through history. I laugh the truth from the heart. I hope this happens again. Until next time, bye teacher. It was a pleasure.

[Music] eh ah

[Music]